Florence mayor Bob Gayle presented an offer to county commissioners Tuesday that he hoped they couldn’t refuse.
While they did not refuse, they also didn’t accept.

Released after breakfast Valentine’s Day, a county jail inmate was back in time for dinner, and saddled with additional charges.
Shane Zerbe, 32, of Wichita, released at 10:27 a.m. Feb. 14, was back in jail less than four hours later.

A trip that was planned as a combined Christmas and birthday gift for Peggy Blackman of Marion from her daughter, Kay, turned out to be more than she dreamed it would be. She reconnected with Marion High School exchange student Alf Tangvald, whom she hadn’t seen in 28 years.
“I couldn’t believe it!” she exclaimed. “We had a tearful reunion. We just clung to each other. We had so many wonderful experiences with him in our family. He was like a son.”

A brush fire, followed by a grass fire Sunday afternoon, kept Hillsboro, Lehigh, and Durham firefighters busy until well after dark.
Hillsboro fire chief Ben Steketee said the brush fire, called in at 2:37 p.m., had been burning many days.

Tampa’s popular “Little Free Library” will soon have a bigger, more robust brother of sorts, as a library building is being built mere feet away.
David Mueller, board member for Tampa Community Foundation, said an unsightly empty space where the structure is being built is in the location a notable past resident used to operate a business.

Another former Tabor College athlete was arrested early Thursday after a brief police pursuit that began on US-56 and ended on Adams St., just south of the city shops.
Zachary Andrew-Yamamoto, 23, a former offensive lineman from Hilo, Hawaii, who was a senior on the Tabor football roster in 2016, was arrested by Hillsboro police on suspicion of driving under the influence. He was released 3½ hours later on $2,500 surety bond.

Time and compassion can make a real difference in the life of an abused or neglected child.
Court-appointed special advocates are volunteers who engage with children to provide insight to the court system as it deals with the issue of what needs to be done for the child.

School secretary Annette Elliott lacks no passion when it comes to the health, safety, and well-being of Peabody-Burns Junior/Senior High School students. Her enthusiasm led to the recognition that there was a need for more education that involved making positive choices that aided kids in living more safe and healthy lives. After some research, hard work, and assistance from outside sources, she has successfully filled that need with a new organization, and made an impact that has sparked the interest of others in the county.
TADA, or Teens Against Destructive Activities, is an official SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) chapter with a twist.

In an effort to help parents guide their children through their teen-age years, Marion County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition is joining “It Matters,” a statewide campaign to promote positive choices.
It Matters addresses alcohol abuse, marijuana use, prescription drug abuse, suicide prevention, and problem gambling.

County commissioners Tuesday approved the purchase of two more ambulances to replace two that are pushing the end of their useful lives.
Emergency Medical Services director Ed Debesis presented bids for three ambulance options from two suppliers.

A Marion man faces a March 7 preliminary hearing in district court on multiple charges of aggravated indecent liberties with a child.
Bradley Carlson, 55, was arrested Feb. 14 by sheriff’s deputies on allegations of three separate incidents of inappropriate touching involving a child under 14. Two incidents are alleged to have occurred on or around Feb. 10, while a third alleged incident was last September.

Severe weather has led to postponement of a program on severe weather.
Because of possible inclement weather tonight, the National Weather Service has postponed a storm preparedness program planned for tonight in Hillsboro.

Westar Energy is alerting customers that imposters claiming to work for the company are threatening to disconnect service and asking for prepaid cards as payment.
Several customers have contacted Westar after receiving suspicious phone calls.

“Water/Ways,” a free traveling exhibition of the Smithsonian Institution, will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Saturday through April 8 at Symphony in the Flint Hills Gallery, 331 Broadway, Cottonwood Falls.
This interactive exhibit explores how water has shaped history and traditions, how it impacts daily life, and how it shapes our future.

Services for Helen “Petie” Cody, 63, Hillsboro, who died Feb. 13 at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, will be 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Tabor College Cafeteria.
She was born Jan. 6, 1955, in San Francisco.

Private services are planned at Pikes Peak National Cemetery for former Peabody resident Marilyn Kay (Zinn) Miller, who died Thursday.
Her husband was pastor at Peabody United Methodist Church for several years in the 1970s.

Services for Malinda Nikkel, 91, who died Friday at Hillsboro Community Hospital, were Tuesday at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church. Interment was in Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Cemetery.
Born Jan. 28, 1927, in Hillsboro to Dave and Marie (Wiens) Penner, she was preceded in death by husband Irvin Nikkel, brother Donald Penner, and sister Esther Penner.

Services for Betty Thomas, 78, who died Saturday at Schowalter Villa in Hesston, will be 11 a.m. Friday at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church.
Burial will be in Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Cemetery will be an hour before the services. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Jost Funeral Home.

In the small communities throughout Marion County, there is a popular theme shared by young folks gearing up to go out into the world. Many kids resent their hometown and can’t wait to venture out into the vast world of the unknown, imagining a multitude of exciting possibilities.
Imagining that beyond that city limit sign lays a solution to all of their problems. Imagining that everything is better where the town is bigger and the people are strangers. Imagining that they won’t ever truly be successful or fulfilled until they brush the hometown dust off their coattails and hit the road.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE COUNTRY:

If people think the flu is bad this winter, it is nothing compared to what happened 100 years ago, when the so-called “Spanish flu” epidemic swept the world. It was called the “deadliest in history.”
Historians say the flu infected 500 million people worldwide and killed as many as 675,000 Americans.

Financial assistance for stream stabilization and off-stream livestock watering facilities is now available within area watersheds. Stream and livestock projects will enable establishment of permanent forest cover to promote stream stability, water quality, and wildlife habitat.
Interested landowners may apply for assistance at any time at the USDA Service Center in Marion. More information can be obtained by contacting Jarran Tindle at Kansas Forest Service: tindle@ksu.edu. or (785) 532-3340.

SENIOR CENTER:

MEMORIES:

Thanks to the altruism of one woman, five Florence community members benefit from Meals on Wheels, which they otherwise wouldn’t have access to.
Peabody Senior Center is an outlet for the program and funded through the North Central Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging. The center has to follow certain guidelines to be reimbursed for the mileage they acquire while delivering meals.

The things Joe Walter of Hillsboro learned while growing up on a farm in South Dakota served him well after he became a missionary to Peru.
He built houses, churches, and a motor boat and taught the indigenous population how to farm and secure their property with deeds.

Changes are obvious as people move into their senior years, but as more people live longer, we learn more about how change doesn’t have to mean decline.
Physical activity and proper diet and nutrition can help people age 50 and older maintain their physical health.

Hopes of Marion’s wrestling team winning a state title will rest on the shoulders of a pair of returnees and two newcomers for this weekend’s Class 3-2-1A state meet at Hays.
Ethan Darnall, Tyler Palic, Charlie Nordquist, and Jarret McLinden, punched their tickets Saturday with three first-place finishes and a third at the Eureka Regional.

Sam Richmond scored 14 points and Kourtney Hansen added 11 to lead the Warrior girls’ basketball team to 47-29 victory Friday night at Elyria Christian.
The Warriors jumped out to a 10-5 lead after the first quarter and kept their foot on the gas for a 19-13 halftime lead and 34-23 heading into the fourth quarter.

The last home games for Centre Cougar seniors resulted in a 58-45 victory for the boys and a 46-33 loss for the girls against Chase County.
After a rocky 2-7 start in the boys game, Centre took a 10-9 lead with three minutes to go in the first quarter. After Zach Barney made the first basket, Cole Srajer made 2 buckets and 1 free throw, and Cody Svoboda made a trey, a layup, and 4 free throws, resulting in a 16-10 lead at the end of the quarter.

Centre’s boys basketball team vaulted into 10th place this week on the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association’s top 10 list for Class 1A Division 1.
The Cougars have a 14-4 record and finished 8-1 in the Wheat State League.

SCHOOL MENUS:

Harmful algae blooms will be among the topics when the Neosho Regional Advisory Committee of the Kansas Water Office meets at 1 p.m. March 5 at Scout House in Hillsboro.
Other topics will include conservation innovation grants and a water quality technology farm.

A new Alvin the Alligator children’s play, “Completely Frank,” will be presented by students in Butler Community College’s theater department in a series of matinee performances through Feb. 28 in El Dorado. Tickets cost $2 and are available by calling (316) 322-3262.